Boat trailer



Oct. 16, 1962 R. D. LEWIS 3,058,608

' BOAT TRAILER Original Filed Dec. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.

9 BYQ-m Oct- 16, 19 2 R. D. LEWIS 3,058,608

BOAT TRAILER Original Filed Dec. 27, 1957 2 SheetsSheet 2 Raymond 0.Lewis INVENTOR.

United states 3,058,608 BQAT TRAILER Raymond D. Lewis, 2624 34th Ave.N., Texas City, Tex. Continuation of application Ser. No. 705,623, Dec.27, 1957. This application July 9, 1959, Ser. No. 826,097 12 (Iiairns.(Cl. 214505) This is a continuation of US. Serial No. 705,623 filedDecember 27, 1957, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to boat trailers and more particularlyto new and useful improvements in boat trailers relating to the loadingand unloading of a boat onto or from the trailer.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a newconstruction in boat trailers to facilitate loading.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a boat trailerincluding a pivotal bed which allows a man to pivot the bed and sofollow a possible drift of the boat in the water due to a wind.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a tiltingmovement of the trailer bed relative to the base for furtherfacilitating the loading of a boat.

It is also an object of this invention to include specially constructedwinch means to further facilitate loading and detachable locking meansbetween the 'bed and base t assure proper operation of the trailerscarrying function.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel boattrailer construction which is relatively simple, reliable, andinexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the above stated objects, below is described a novelconstruction for boat trailers includind a base having rotatabledepending wheels and a bed slidably and pivotally mounted on said base.The invention further contemplates the inclusion of winch means forfacilitating the loading of a boat upon the bed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation :as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a top elevational View of the trailer in this inventionshowing in phantom lines the pivotal connection of the bed;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the trailer'of this invention inits operative position adapted to be pulled by a self-propelled vehicle.The figure further shows in phantom lines the tilted relationshipbetween the bed and base;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the slidable, pivotal and tiltableconnection between the bed and base taken substantially along the plane3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a further sectional view of the connection between the bedand the base taken substantially along the plane 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a disassembled view of the elements of the connectionbetween the bed and the base.

With continuing reference to the drawings, numeral generally designatesthe trailer comprising this invention including a supporting frame 12 inthe form of a U-shaped member having a shaft 14- supported between itsleg portions 16. The shaft 14 rotatably supports a pair of wheels 18 atthe terminal ends thereof. The supporting frame 12 supports an elongatedbase member 20. The base 20 has a connection 22 which is adapted to behooked up to a self-propelled vehicle (not shown) for pulling the base,thereby imparting rolling movement to the wheels 18. b

At a second end of the base 20 is a cylindrical aperture 23 whichproceeds through the base a depth equal to the base 20. Supported withinthis aperture 23 is a shank portion 24 of a fork member 26 having abifurcated portion 28 and a bight portion 30. The bifurcated portion 28has aligned apertures 32 therein which are adapted t receive the shankportion 34 of a bolt 36 The bolt 36 fits through aligned apertures 32 inthe bifurcated portion 28 of fork member 26 and is threadedly engagedwith the nut 38 so as to be maintained in fixed relationship to the forkmember 26. Depending from the shank portion 24 of fork member 26 is anarrow threaded portion 40. Distinct shoulder 42 exists between theshank portion 24 and threaded portion 40. A sleeve 44 having a flange 46on the top thereof is adapted to be rotatably inserted around shank 24of fork member 26. The inner diameter of sleeve 44 must be slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the shank 24. A washer 48 has an innerdiameter slightly larger than the threaded portion 40 depending fromshank 24. The washer 48 is intended to abut the shoulder 42, definingthe line between shank 24 and threaded portion 40, when nut 5b isthreadedly engaged on threaded portion 49.

A bed portion 52 is slidably inserted on bight 3d of fork member 26between the bight 30 and bolt 36. The sleeve 44 rotatably sets inaperture 23 of base 20 with the flange 46 abutting the base 20. The bed52 is shown in 'FIGURE 4 simply as an elongated member havingrectangular cross-section. However, the bed 52 may have a channel shapedupper portion for more easily accommodating the keel of a boat or anadditional channel shaped member may be bolted to but spaced from thebed 52 allowing the bolt 36 to be inserted therebetween. Regardless ofthe specific structure utilized, the bed 52 must be slidably retainedbetween the shank 34 of bolt 36 and the bight 30 of fork member 26.FIGURE 4 clearly shows that the bolt 36 is spaced from th bed 52 as at54. This spacing is intentional in that it allows the bed 54 to betilted into the position shown by the phantom lines in FIGURE 2.

A winch 56 has a cable 58 which extends over an idle pulley 60 rotatablymounted on stop arm 62. The cable 58 is adapted to be hooked to an eye64 of a boat 66 intended to be loaded and carried on trailer 10. Thewinch 56 is carried by the bed 52 and in combination with the idlepulley 60 provides that the cable 58 will extend substantially parallelto the desired path of motion of the boat 66. A roller 68 is supportedby the bed 52 at its rear end thereof and is adapted to guide andfacilitate the longitudinal movement of the boat upon the bed 52.

A collar 70 fits around base 20 and is of a large enough size to includea terminal portion of bed '52. The collar 70 includes a screw crank 72which communicates with the inner portions of collar '70. The functionof the collar 70 is to lock the bed 52 relative to th base 29 this isdone by fitting the collar 70 around the base 20 and bed 52 and screwingthe screw crank 72 so that it bears against the bed 52 compressing thebed and base together. Of course, apertures could be provided in thebase 52 to accommodate the screw crank 72. It should be apparent thatthe screw crank 72 and collar 70 are utilized only when this inventionis performing its carrying function. Of course, during the loadingperformance screw crank 72 would be unscrewed so that the collar 70could be moved forward releasing its bearing pressure on bed 52.

In the operation of this device, it is desired that the boat 66 belifted from the water onto the bed 52 of trailer 10. As is shown inFIGURE 1, the bed '52 is pivoted about the shank 24 and collar 44 to aposition approximately parallel to the keel of the boat. As maybe seeninFIGURE 1, regardless of the position the boat 66 has assumed after thetrailer 10 has been parked, the bed 52 is adaptable to conform to thedrift created by the wind. When the bed 52 is approximately parallel tothe keel of the boat 66, the cable 58 is 'affixed to the eye 64 of theboat 66. The operator of the trailer will then proceed to turn the crankof the winch 56, thereby pulling the cable 58 and boat 66 over theroller 68 and along the bed 52. The boat is further pulled over the bolt36 until it assumes the tilted position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE2. The winch is locked in this position so that the boat is firmly heldagainst the stop post 62. The bed 52 is then raised at its rear end andslid between the bight 30 of fork member 26 and the shank 34 of bolt 36.It will then assume the position shown in the solid lines in FIGURE 2.In this position, the operator will lock the collar 7 about the bed 52and base 20 to maintain the relationship shown in solid lines in FIGURE2. Hence, the trailer is then properly positioned to be pulled by aself-propelled vehicle. It is to be noted that the slidable movement ofthe bed allows it to be secured in slightly different positions relativeto the base. This feature is advantageous inasmuch as it allows the bedto be more properly balanced on the base depending on whether the boatis weighted at the rear with one or two outboard motors. The boat isintended to rest on the bed 52 and the bolt 36. It is stressed that thebed 52 may be channel shaped at its upper portion to act as a car forthe keel of the boat 66. It is further noted that a channel member couldbe bolted to the bed 52 at a distance therefrom to provide for theinsertion of the bolt 36 therebetween.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit thinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A boat trailer comprising a base, a forked member, said memberincluding a bifurcated portion and a shank portion, said shank portionrotatably supported by said base, a bed slidably supported in saidbifurcated portion, said bed including winch means carried thereby, androtatable ground wheel means dependingly supported from said base, andretaining means detachably locking said bed to said base.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a roller mounted on a terminalportion of said bed.

3. A boat trailer comprising a base, a forked member, said memberincluding a bifurcated portion having a bolt therethrough and a shankportion, said shank portion rotatably supported by said base, a bedslidably supported in said bifurcated portion beneath said bolt, winchmeans carried by said bed, a collar detachably locking said bed to saidbase, a roller mounted on a terminal portion of said bed, and a pair ofWheels depending from said base.

4. A boat trailer comprising a base, ground wheel means dependinglysupported for rotation from said base, a fork member, said fork memberincluding a vertical bifurcated portion, a vertical shank portion,mounting means for rotatably mounting said shank portion in said base, abed, said bed slidably supported within said bifurcated portion, andretaining means carried by said base for preventing said bed fromsliding relative to said base.

5. A boat trailer comprising a base, ground wheel means dependinglysupported for rotation from said base, a fork member, said fork memberincluding a vertical bifurcated portion, a vertical shank portion,mounting means for rotatably mounting said shank portion in said base,said mounting means including a sleeve, an aperture in said base, saidsleeve extending through said aperture, said shank portion rotatablyretained in said sleeve, a bed, said bed slidably supported within saidbifurcated portion, and retaining means carried by said base forpreventing said bed from sliding relative to said base.

6. A boat trailer comprising a base, ground wheel means dependinglysupported for rotation from said base, a fork member, said fork memberincluding a vertical bifurcated portion, a vertical shank portion,mounting means for rotatably mounting said shank portion in said base,said mounting means including a sleeve, an aperture in said base, saidsleeve extending through said aperture, said shank portion rotatablyretained in said sleeve, aligned apertures in said bifurcated portion, abolt extending through said apertures and retained therein, a bed, saidbed slidably supported Within said bifurcated portion closed by saidbolt, and retaining means carried by said base for preventing said bedfrom sliding relative to said base.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a roller mounted on a terminalportion of said bed for facilitating the loading of a'boat on the bed.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein winch means for aiding in loadinga boat into said bed is carried by said bed.

9. A boat trailer comprising a base, a forked member, said memberincluding a bifurcated portion and a shank portion, said shank portionrotatably supported by said base for rotation about a vertical axis, abed supported in said bifurcated portion tiltable with respect theretoabout a horizontal axis, said bed including winch means carried thereby,rotatable ground wheel means dependingly supported from said base, andretaining means detachably locking said bed to said base.

10. A boat trailer comprising a longitudinally extending base defining alongitudinal axis and having rotatable ground wheel means dependingtherefrom, a bed, means mounting said bed on said base for permittingpivotal movement of said bed about a vertical axis and tiltable movementof said bed about a horizontal axis, said longitudinal, vertical andhorizontal axes being mutually perpendicular and winch means including acable adapted to be fastened to a boat supported on one end of said bed,and retaining means detachably locking said bed to said base.

ll. A boat trailer comprising a longitudinally extending base defining alongitudinal axis and having rotatable ground wheel means dependingtherefrom, an elongated bed, means mounting said bed on said base forpermitting pivotal movement of said bed about a vertical axis andtiltable movement of said bed about a horizontally disposed axisextending transversely of said bed, said longitudinal, vertical andhorizontal axes being mutually perpendicular, and a post memberextending perpendicularly from said bed, an idler pulley carried by saidpost member, winch means fixed to said bed, said winch means including acable extending over said idler pulley, and retaining means detachablylocking said bed to said base.

12. The combination of claim 9 including a roller mounted on a terminalportion of said bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,589,090 Bamberger June 15, 1926 2,424,692 Harshberger July 29, 19472,485,793 Vassar Oct. 25, 1949 2,765,180 Albers Oct. 2, 1956 2,786,590Edwards et al. Mar. 26, 1957 2,807,381 Tegeler Sept. 24, 1957 2,808,953Whitney Oct. 8, 1957 2,828,029 Easley Mar. 25, 1958 2,937,776 BeckhamMay 24, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 559,755 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1944

